Slicer



E. G. COLE Nov. 16, 1943.

SLICER Filed May 14, 1941 INVENTOR fdwz'zz Gardner ("ale ATT RNEY I of the base I.

in the drawings, the base portion I is pressed from a single sheet of metal to provide an ele.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 r 1;;

Edwin Gardner Cole, Chicago, 111., assignor to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicaim',v 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 14,1941, serialize; ssaa'sa i oiaims; (01.31-25) I This invention relates to a device for cutting soft plastic materials, and more particularly it relates to a simple, portable device for slicing cheese, butter, and the like. g

Numerous devices have been suggested for slicing plastic materials, but-most of these are objectionable because they are either, bulky, expensive to manufacture, or so frail that they do not stand up on extended use or over long periods of time.

It has nowbeen found possible to prepare a simple device at a low cost which is portable and light in weight, yet possesses great durabiL ity. The attached drawing illustrates one par"- ticularly desirable modification of the present invention. In this drawing Figure 1 is a cross section of the novel cutter taken on the line l! of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Figure Bis a perspective 'view of the slicing device with a blockof cheese being out thereon; and Fig ure 4 is a top view of the yoke and cutting wire.

Thepresent invention is characterized by the simplicity of structure and inexpensivenesswithout sacrificing durability and efficiency. The device consists essentially of a raised base portion I having a Wire cutter frame 2 pivoted through the sides 3 of said base I. The frame 2 for the cutting wire 1 is advantageously fixed so that it extends upwardly and outwardly from the side 3 In the preferred device illustrated vated supporting surface 5 and Walls 3 and 4, one of which, 3, serves as a shearing edge. In the depicted embodiment there is also a flaring trough 6 around the Whole base which prevents any liquid or soft plastic material from flowing off the base I. The flaring base 6 on the shearing side 3 also serves as a stop for the cutting wire 'I and the frame or yoke 2, and also as a sanitary receiving surface for the severed slice 8. In addition, the whole device is supported on the flat or rounded under surface of the flaring base 6 rather than on a sharp vertical edge which would mar a table'or other article used for supporting the cutting device during its operation. The base i also has at least one, but preferably two or more, transverse ridges 9 and I pressed in the supporting surface of the base I. These ridges 9 and I0 serve as guides between or along which the product H, such as a cake ofcheese, is fed to the cutting edge 3.

The cutting instrument is a simply constructed device comprising a frame or yoke 2 for holding the cutting wire 1, which frame is extended and arranged to serve as a rotating shaft l2 journaled in the sides 3 and 3 of thebasefl ,about which shaft 12 thecuttingiwire l is revolved. This is accomplished by forminga U shaped yoke '2 from 'a rodlike metal of any type cross section,

with one end extending a distance substantially the same'length as the width of the base I'.' This extension I2 is substantially at] right angles to; the cutting wire l stretched across the yoke 2,

but preferably forming an oblique angle up to 180 withthe plane of the frame 2 'andwire 1. The extension 12 issupported in the two sides 3 of the base 'I, substantially perpendicular to the shearing edge 3 and parallel 'to the supporting surface i. If the rodlike yoke 2 and extension [2- are any cross section other than round, then at the points of suspension in the side walls 3" and 30f the base I they should have a round cross section-to permit rotation thereabout; The end I3 or the rod l2 extending through the'far side 3 of the base I has a suitable means; such asa' bur "I4,'-to hold the rod (2 in position. 1 It is also preferredto place a bur I5 or washer on the rod between the cutting wire 1. and the point or entrance into the shearing side 3 of the base I. This is also to position the cutting wire and to prevent binding of the wire I on the shearing edge 3. The other end of the yoke 2 may be extended preferably parallel to and in the same plane as the cutting wire 1 to form a handle for operating the cutting wire 1 in yoke 2. The cutting wire 1 is stretched. across the open end of the 'U-shaped yoke 2 and fastened by any suitable means, such as by pinching or soldering in a slit cut in the rod forming the yoke 2.

The cutter is operated by raising the cutting I wire 1 and frame 2 to a substantially vertical position. The cheese, butter or the like .I l is slid along'or between the ridges 9 and. lil until the section 8 of the product which it is desired to sever overhangs the edge 3 of the base I. The frame 2 and wire 1 are thenlowered to a substantially horizontal position thus severing the section 8 of cheese or the like from thebody of the product H. By having the yoke 2 in the angular position illustrated rather than in the which is resistant to wear and corrosive action.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof; therefore only such limitations I should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slicer comprising in combination a pressed metal cutting base having side walls and a liaring supporting trough extending from said side walls, a cutting 'wire, an elongated metal cylindrical member having one end in the form of a U-shaped yoke for holding the extremities of the cutting wire and the other end extending substantially at'right angles to the cutting wire and at an angle greater than 90 but less than180 with the plane of the'yoke and wire, the ex-- tended end of the elongated member being pivoted through two of the side walls so that one of theside walls serves as avertical shearing edge for the cutting wire, and means to prevent substantial movement of the pivoted end of the elongated member parallel to its axis.

2. A cheese slicer comprising in combination a pressed sheet metal cutting base having side walls and a flaring supporting trough extending from said side walls, a cutting wire, an elongated,

being pivoted through two of the side walls so;

that one of the side walls serves as a vertical shearing edge for the cutting wire, and a but on said extension adjacent an opposite face of a side wall from that of the cutting wire to prevent substantial movement of the pivoted end of the elongated member parallel to its axis.

3. A food slicer comprising in combination a pressed sheet metal cutting base having side and end walls, a flaring supporting trough extending from said walls and a pair of parallel guiding ridges running transverse the base substantially perpendicular to the side walls, a cutting wire, an elongated metal cylindrical rod in the form of a U-shaped yoke for holding the extremities of the cutting wire with one side substantially parallel to the cutting wire as a handle and having one endextendingsubstantially at right angles to the-cutting wire and at an angle of about with the plane of the yoke and wire, and the latter extension being pivoted through the two side walls so that one of the side walls serves as a vertical shearing edge for the cutting wire, and at least two burs on the extension adjacent opposite faces of the side walls to prevent substantial movement of the pivoted end of the elongatedmember parallel to its axis.

4. A slicer comprising in combination a cutting base having side walls and a flaring supporting trough extending from said side walls, a cutting wire, an elongated member having one end in the form of a U-shaped yoke for holding the extremities of the cutting wire and the other end extending substantially at right angles to the cutting Wire and at an angle greater than 90 but less than with the plane of the yoke and Wire, the extended end of the elongated member being pivoted through two of the side walls so that one of the side walls serves as a vertical shearing edge .for the cutting wire, and means to prevent substantial movementof the pivoted end of the elongated member parallel to its axis.

EDWIN GARDNER COLE. 

